History doesn't have to be boring. The secret to staying awake in History is in what you make of it.

Steps

1

Sit up straight. With your back straight and head held up high, you'll look confident and you'll be more relaxed. This will work with any class, not just history.

2

Pay attention. Paying attention will really help you on the test. Most History teachers are great speakers and tell amazing stories that will help you remember concepts on the tests.

3

Don't talk with your friends. If you talk during class, you will only slow it down even more. Let your teacher finish lecturing, then he/she might give you a few minutes at the end to do what you want.

4

Participate. When you engage yourself in the lesson, you'll find it much more interesting than if you passively listen and take notes. Really think about what your teacher is saying, and if you disagree, don't be afraid to raise your hand and say so! Discussion is a major part of History class, and oftentimes your teacher will purposely say something controversial to spark debate.

5

Stay positive. If you think the class will be boring, it will be. Even if you think you have the worst teacher in the world, think about how many History teachers there are. There must be a worse teacher out there!

6

Move! Science has shown that people who fidget are more likely to pay attention and show better concentration and learning. If you feel your concentration waning, try bouncing your leg up and down with your toe planted on the ground. This simple repeated movement increases blood flow to the brain and grounds the mind.

7

Think about History as an extension of your favorite subject. If you enjoy English, think of History as a really good story to analyze. If you like Science, think of History as the record of all scientific discoveries. History is anything that happened in the past, from the time of the caveman to your Internet browsing history.

8

Take an advanced course. Even if you really hate History, taking an advanced course has many advantages. If you take it as an AP class, you can get college credit for it and possibly not have to study it later depending on your college and major. Also, schools reserve the best teachers for the advanced classes. You'll be sure to get the most entertaining teacher in the building and that's worth the extra work right there.

9

"Personalize the Material." If you can, think of a way to make the boring material applicable to your life. For example, use the mindset "I have to use this to pass the AP test," or "If I take in this material, I will do well on the tests and get an A." If you think of reasons why you need to use this specific material, the class will seem a bit more interesting.

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Tips

Actually consider what you're learning. Learning doesn't always have to be a chore, and you can actually appear really smart if you know something about history...many people don't even bother!

Think through what you're learning as you're learning it. You can develop images in your head of what actually happened in history and perhaps understand it better.

Really try hard to stay awake; History is full of people who are just taking it because it is a requirement. Those are the people who fall asleep. If you want a good grade in the class, you have to let your teacher realize you're not like that.

Learn the dirt. Look up some more information about certain people or events. Many history teachers have to butcher history in a one class period segment, which doesn't allow you to understand the "dirt" about these people and events in history. You can learn a lot about the personal lives of these historical people and you may get how it can make sense; some parts may even be interesting enough to hold your interest. Think of it like gossip!

After you find out what the unit will be over, try going to a library and finding a book that relates to the events your studying. For example, if you are studying the Holocaust you should try to find a book of personal memoirs by a Holocaust survivor.

If you are having trouble staying awake in class then try chewing a peppermint or a menthol. It is a great way to wake up your senses.